Cricket: Shane Watson Smashes Record for Most Records

When I awoke to the news that Shane Watson had hit fifteen sixes in an innings, I could scarcely believe it. Not because I didn't think the powerfully capable opener was capable against a limited Bangladesh attack, but because I was surprised Bangladesh had made enough runs to make it necessary. I had given up on their innings when Nafees was dismissed for 56 at 5/88, as my main interest at that stage was whether he could beat Viv Richards' record for highest percentage (69.5%) of team total in an ODI. Little did I know...

Bangladesh recovered from their dawdling start (opener Imrul Kayes made 5 off 41) to make 229, thanks to a fine middle order knock from Mushfiqur Rahim who finished unbeaten on 81 from 80 balls. A target of 230 was unlikely to challenge Australia unduly, but few would have suspected they would get there in 26 overs. Watson was away quickly, and when Haddin departed for just 8, Watson already had his 50 (from 26 balls, with four sixes). Ponting came out and was mostly content to nudge it around for singles as Watson continued to flay the attack. His second 50 was more sedate, containing just two more sixes as he reached his 100 off 69 balls.

By now he was apparently too tired to run much, so decided to hit out in a "six OR out" variation on backyard's cricket "six and out". He didn't get out. He moved to 150 in just 14 more balls with a further five sixes, and finished unbeaten on 185 off 96 balls with 15 fours and 15 sixes, a new high score for an Australian in ODIs, passing Matthew Hayden's 181. It was an ODI record number of sixes in an innings, as well as a new high for most runs in boundaries. Most startlingly, he made 79.7% of Australia's runs, smashing Richard's record.

Had Australia had a few more runs to chase, he could have joined Tendulkar as the only double centurions in ODI's. However, Tendulkar got there in the 50th over - Watson was on track to do it inside of 30! The heat and fatigue meant it was unlikely he would have lasted for 50 overs anyway, but it's amazing to think he was on track to pass Bradman and Mark Taylor's record high score in an innings by an Australian in international cricket (334 in Tests).